A sword-wielding Long Islander who tried to provoke cops into killing him is now in the hospital — shot but alive — after charging at officers in a failed suicide-by-cop attempt Tuesday afternoon.
Joseph Restaino, 33, allegedly called 911 to his Bay Shore home and told operators that he was holding hostages inside and was suicidal, according to Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina.
When officers arrived and knocked on the door, they were greeted by Restaino holding a sword in his hands, prompting officers to tase the homeowner and demand he drop the sword — but the taser was ineffective at slowing him down.
Restaino, who police said has a history of mental illness, wouldn’t give up and kept attempting to charge the officers with the blade when one of them fired at least one shot into his chest, according to officials.
Police found no hostages inside the home and determined the 911 call was a ruse to set up the failed suicide attempt.
Restaino survived the shooting and was in surgery Tuesday night at South Shore University Hospital in Bay Shore, where he remains under medical supervision.
Suffolk County police told The Post that no charges have currently been filed against Restaino, but remained adamant that may change as he recovers.
Neither of the responding officers were injured.
The incident marked the second police shooting in that North Bay Shore neighborhood in less than two weeks — stirring concern among residents.
On July 24, Nieves Reyes, 48, stabbed his 66-year-old coworker Eugene Allen to death with a machete and shot a Suffolk County cop in the face before barricading himself inside his home and engaging in a stand-off with police, authorities and sources said.
Reyes pleaded not guilty Friday in Riverhead to second-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder of a police officer.
Residents told Newsday they were able to hear both police shootings unfold, just blocks from one another.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis and live in New York City, you can call 888-NYC-WELL for free and confidential crisis counseling. If you live outside the five boroughs, you can dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
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